How to check your language development

It is beneficial to know how to check your language development and see how far you’ve come from time to time. It helps to decide the areas you need to work on, and it also helps to motivate you to learn more.

Language learning is a never ending process. We think we have to reach our goal, which usually is fluency, (but what is fluency really?) and only then, we can say we have become better at a language. We set these intangible goals like: I want to become fluent or, I want to communicate better.

Don’t get me wrong, these ARE valid goals, but not something we can measure, therefore, we never feel like we have actually reached them, so we get discuraged by the fact that we are still not there yet.

This is why it is so important to take a look at our development from time to time.

Here are some methods I use to check my development, that you should also try out:

• check the first pages of your vocabulary book Isn’t it funny how you once didn’t know these words? If you keep learning and adding to your vocabulary, the words you add today will be just as obvious in  the future as the words on the first pages.
• reread old text messages or essays Take a look at older messages you have sent and essays you wrote. I can’t tell you how much I cringe reading messages I sent 3-4 years ago, but that is what shows me that I’m learning and moving forward in my process. I’m sure you can point out a lot of mistakes that you didn’t realize you were making at the time you wrote them. You see? You are not as stuck in your development as you think you are.
• fill out free language exam examples A lot of language schools provide free examples of their exams. Fill one out now and three months from now. Check if you have got a better score the second time.
• rewatch movies It can be a very clear sign of development if you can understand a movie you didn’t understand the first time you tried to watch it.
• cross out words on the 3000 wordlist from time to time Google the 3000 most important words in the language you learn for example “3000 most important Spanish words”. Print out the list you’ve found and cross out the words you know every two or three months. This helps you to check the growth of your vocabulary.

Wasn’t it fun? I sincerely hope I could lift your mood with this exercise. Make it a habit to do this every 3-4 months.

Zsófi

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• Advanced language learning goalsOctober 29, 2022
  It is easy to set goals as a beginner. You want to speak fluently, want to understand movies, or maybe just simply create a sentence. But what can you look forward to once you’ve achieved all of this? As an advanced language learner, you can make it a goal to repeat words less and use … Read moreAdvanced language learning goals
• Language learning motivation for advanced learnersJune 3, 2022
  Say no to monotony and lack of new impulses and challenges, and get back on track. Buckle up ’cause in no time your passion for languages will be back. I guarantee you will feel the rush of emotions you used to feel in the beginning again.
• How to learn advanced vocabularyMay 14, 2022
  In order to learn advanced words, you must use advanced listening and reading resources, and once you find an unknown word you have to not only translate it but also see it in context in order to be able to use it correctly. You should also put it into practice immediately by using it in … Read moreHow to learn advanced vocabulary